no ideals

Impromptu – Nineteenth century feminist author George Sand (Judy Davis), as famous for her cigar-smoking and pants-wearing as she was for her writing, is at the center of this literary drama. Although she’s fallen for composer Frederic Chopin (Hugh Grant), a number of obstacles stand in their way — rivals, former lovers … even duels! This film was nominated for a New York Film Critics Circle Award and an Independent Spirit Award.

I think I added this to my Netflix queue based on the involvement of Julian Sands, but he’s not a major character; actually, all characters play second fiddle to George Sand (Judy Davis)–even Frederic Chopin (Hugh Grant).

Foolishly longing for art’s influence in her circle, the Duchess D’Antan (Emma Thompson) invites a group of artists to her estate for a fortnight, and Sand invites herself along in hopes of trailing after Chopin–not that the Duchess seems to mind, finding the impertinence more amusing than troubling. It’s a recipe for battling eccentricities–and trouble–that eventually turns on the Duchess in an evening’s entertainment produced by Alfred De Musset (Mandy Patinkin), the sole purpose of which is to ridicule the host and hostess.

Franz Liszt: [as God] Hurry, Noah, to the Ark, and fill it with two each of the creatures of land, sea, and air.
George Sand: [as Noëtte] Lord, we have no need for animals – art alone will save the world. Let’s see, we’ll need two of everything: two poets, two painters, two musicians…
Franz Liszt: [as God] Impossible, they will not come. Your conversation is not witty and you have no ideals.
George Sand: [as Noëtte] Ha ha, true, but we shall also give them free food and lodging for forty days and forty nights. Now, we shall also need two playwrights, two composers, two makers of velvet flowers…

Chopin, responsible for composing and playing its music, stops the play once he realizes its nature; for though the Duchess is generally vapid, it is fairly nasty payback for her generosity. As one of the other characters remarks at some point, Chopin is the girl of the relationship between him and Sand–kinder, frailer, better-mannered.

The cast is superb and the relationships feel possible and true–and truth is one of the more difficult things to get at in a period drama. ****